Archive for September, 2018

1pm Monday
I periodically remind visitors to kc9bqa.com that it’s not all about the 144.240 net here. Been promoting more activity on the SSB/CW side of bands like 50, 144, 222 and 432 MHz for 10 years now.

If you scroll back to posts dated Feb. 15th, 2018, you will see I got busy and detailed multiple nets and/or activity periods. I devote one post to each, so scroll thru each post’s headlines to find what you need. And yes, help spread the word. There’s far more activity on the “weak-signal” side of V/UHF, but it really helps to know when and where the busier times are happening.

Posted in Blog Post | Comments Off on Other Nets and Activity on V/UHF in or near WI

First a general announcement for anyone who may be new here.
The 144.240 net is called every Wed. at 8pm central/9pm eastern by net control WB9LYH. Mark is in EN54cl, near WI Rapids, right in the middle of WI.
WB9LYH starts the net by looking NE, then E, SE, S, SW, W, NW and N at the end. This can take from 30-45 minutes, depending on activity levels. Eastern time zone is always targeted first with the 144.240 Wed. night net.
All licensed amateurs are welcome. We appreciate you helping to spread the word. The net is informal and the purpose is to increase activity on the SSB side of 2 meters. Horizontally polarized gain antennas are typically used to make contacts in that 100-300+ mile range that utilizes the full potential of SSB and CW modes on VHF/UHF. You can certainly try a vertical to see if you hear anything, just be aware of the 20db loss with cross-polarization.
WB9LYH has a pair of stacked 16-element yagis and 500 watts from a high QTH in the clear. Mark always wants to push the propagation limits and we encourage stations in that 400+ mile range to listen along and see if the band is “up” on a given night. We also value all check-ins, regardless of distance.

Alright, there’s the general announcement. Let’s get to the net reports.

On Aug 8th, N9XKH filled in as alternate net control. Dennis does this from time to time when Mark needs cover.
On Aug. 15th, WB9LYH emailed, “Good to be back, great signals. Checkins were WA9JML and N9UEB EN51; AB9QH, KC9VHD and N9NDP EN62; N8XEW EN71; WB8LNG EM79; K9CCL and N9KKF EN61; WA9BNZ and W9BBP EN40; W1JWS EN50; N9RXM EN41; N0RWR EN42; KC9TNK EN44 and WD8CBO EN35.”
I (KC9BQA) am pleased to report N9UEB is a new all-time checkin to the 144.240 Wed. net. Still attracting new signals after 10+ years. That’s a good feeling. N9UEB — glad you’re on 2 meters SSB.

On Aug. 22nd, WB9LYH reported, “Decent signals, few stations. Checkins were K9CCL and N9KKF EN61; N9NDP and KC9VHD EN62; WB8LNG EM79; WA9JML EN51; WA9BNZ, W9BBP and WB0SWQ EN40; N9RXM EN41 and KC9TNK EN44. Also, W5LDA in EM15, central OK, called cw and a few bits were heard. Tnx to him for trying.”

On Aug. 29th, WB9LYH relayed, “The weather moved east of us, so we had a successful net. Checkins were AB9QH, KC9VHD and N9NDP EN62; WB8LNG EM79; KC9RIO and K9CCL EN61; KG9AP EM59; W1JWS EN51; WB0SWQ, W9BBP and WA9BNZ EN40; N9RXM EN41; N0RWR EN42 and KC9TNK EN44.” Mark continued, “The weather here was wet but no high winds, so the antennas are still up there.”

On Sept. 5th, WB9LYH said, “It cleared here in late afternoon. Some signals very good, others degraded by rain. Checkins were WB9LNG EM79; N9RXM EN41; WB0SWQ, WA9BNZ and W9BBP EN40; W1JWS EN50; N0RWR and WV9E EN42; AB9QH and KC9VHD EN62 and KG9AP EM59. I think N8XEW called, but we could not complete the contact. The weather we had (in WI) went there (MI).”

On Sept. 12th, N9XKH pinch-hit again. Thanks, Dennis. Hope you had good conditions and lots of activity.
On Sept. 19th, WB9LYH emailed, “Good to be back on the net. N9XKH called the net last week and tnx to him. Good net tonight, good signals. Checkins were KC9RAP EN63; K9CCL, W9SUS, N9JBW, N9KKF and N9IYV EN61; N9NAQ and WA9JML EN51; KC9VHD EN62; W1JWS EN50; WA9BNZ and WB0SWQ EN40; N0RWR EN42 and N9RXM EN41.” Mark finished by saying, “Mosquitoes were the topic tonite, and frost would be great to get rid of them.”

OK, all caught up.

Posted in Blog Post | Comments Off on 144.240 Net Reports Going Back to Aug. 8th